Total Complaints
34 filings
HONDA PRELUDE · model year
1989 HONDA PRELUDE
34 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989HONDAPRELUDE carries 34 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 PRELUDE is steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections with 7 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (6) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system:radiator assembly (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1989 PRELUDE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
34
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020702ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (@55MPH) ON THE US 20 BYPASS, A LOCAL 2-LANE EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND POWER DUE TO THE BREAKING OF THE TIMING BELT. LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE NEAR ME AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. VEHICLES ON THIS EXPRESSWAY ROUTINELY APPROACH 65 MPH. THIS BEING SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND TO HAVE 3 OF THE 4 ENGINE VALVES DESTROYED BEYOND REPAIR; A ROD OR PISTON IN THE LOWER ENGINE HAS ALSO BEEN AFFECTED, THUS EFFECTIVELY MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND UNECONOMICAL TO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL FAILS TO INFORM OWNERS THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED. THERE IS NO INDICATION AT ALL IN THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON PAGES 72-77 THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED. THE WARRANTY BOOKLET FOR THE 1989 HONDA PRELUDE STATES ON PAGE 4, " YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOUR 1989 HONDA AUT
20001211FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SOON AFTER PARKING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS DUE TO FAULTY WIRES. CONSUMER CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA, AND THEY SENT CONSUMER TO A DEALER SHIP. BUT DEALERSHIP SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS TOO SERIOUS, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR HER. CONSUMER CALLED BACK AMERICAN HONDA, AND THEY SAID THEY WILL CALL HER BACK. CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL. *AK
20000731STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE SAME HOSE ON 1988, WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO THE 1989 MODEL. *ET
20000226SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES ENGAGE AND APPEAR TO HOLD; BUT BUCKLES RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO BELTS. *AK
20000117STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
SAME PROBLEM AS 1988 MODEL YEAR RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) FOUND IN SUMMARY. *AK
19991117STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE ON MY HONDA PRELUDE DEVELOPED A LEAK AT THE CONNECTOR CLAMP SEAL, AND DRIPPED FLUID ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING SMOKE. HONDA HAD RECALLED THE POWER STEERING SUPPLY HOSE WHICH THEY INSTALLED IN MY CAR, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE "ENDING DATE OF MANUFACTURE". MY HONDA PRELUDE IS A 1989 MODEL, BUT IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST OF 1988. PLEASE PETITION HONDA TO EXTEND THEIR RECALL SO THAT I, AND OTHER HONDA PRELUDE OWNERS, CAN BE PROTECTED FROM THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD. *AK
19991111ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE CAR STOPS BY ITSELF WHEN BEING DRIVEN. IT SPUTTERS AND THEN ALL THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR STOPS AND WILL NOT START. I HAVE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES, AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO START THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT BUT WE ARE STILL FACING THE SAME PROBLEM OF CAR STOPPING BY ITSELF AND NOT STARTING AGAIN.
19991008EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THIS IS A COMPRESSOR THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 2/11/91. I AM NOW ON THE 3RD COMPRESSOR.
19991008STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THIS HOSE FAILURE IS THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE 1988 RECALL, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER IT.
19990325STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING AT CONNECTOR CLAMP SEAL. NOTICED THE 1988 VEHICLES ARE UNDER RECALL CONCERNING SAME PROBLEM; NHTSA # 89V059 000. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE NOT UNDER RECALL. *AK
19990120STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE LEAKS.
19980909SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT BELT BUCKLE REPLACED ACCORDANCE WITH A RECALL CAMPAIGN 95V103001, THE REPLACED BUCKLE REFUSED TO LATCH AFTERWARD BEING REPLACED. ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME THE BUCKLE WOULD APPEAR TO BE SNAP, BUT AFTER YANKING ON THE BELT IT WOULD RELEASE FROM AT THE BUCKLE.
19970806SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES SQUEAL. ALSO, POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK/ RADIATOR HOSE MELTS DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MANIFOLD/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ WINDOWS FOG UP AND CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE SWERVES/UNEVEN BACK TIRE WEAR. *AK
19970806STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
BRAKES SQUEAL. ALSO, POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK/ RADIATOR HOSE MELTS DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MANIFOLD/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ WINDOWS FOG UP AND CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE SWERVES/UNEVEN BACK TIRE WEAR. *AK
19970806TIRES
BRAKES SQUEAL. ALSO, POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK/ RADIATOR HOSE MELTS DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MANIFOLD/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ WINDOWS FOG UP AND CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE SWERVES/UNEVEN BACK TIRE WEAR. *AK
19970806SUSPENSION:FRONT
BRAKES SQUEAL. ALSO, POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK/ RADIATOR HOSE MELTS DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MANIFOLD/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ WINDOWS FOG UP AND CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE SWERVES/UNEVEN BACK TIRE WEAR. *AK
19970806ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
BRAKES SQUEAL. ALSO, POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK/ RADIATOR HOSE MELTS DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MANIFOLD/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ WINDOWS FOG UP AND CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE SWERVES/UNEVEN BACK TIRE WEAR. *AK
19970806VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
BRAKES SQUEAL. ALSO, POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK/ RADIATOR HOSE MELTS DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MANIFOLD/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ WINDOWS FOG UP AND CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE SWERVES/UNEVEN BACK TIRE WEAR. *AK
19970806VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BRAKES SQUEAL. ALSO, POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK/ RADIATOR HOSE MELTS DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MANIFOLD/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ WINDOWS FOG UP AND CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE SWERVES/UNEVEN BACK TIRE WEAR. *AK
19970502SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE RELEASE BUTTONS ON THE BELTS ARE CRAKED AND BROKEN. *AK
Compare 1989HONDAPRELUDE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE have?▼
The 1989 HONDA PRELUDE has 34 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE is STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1989 HONDA PRELUDE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.